Bicycle-gearing.



. Patented my 4, kaas. J. A. CALDWELL.

BICYCLE GEARING.

(Application led May 26, 1897. Renewed Nov. 28, 1,898.)

(No Model.)

/NVENTOH l rom/5y TH: Nonms PETERS cannon-uwe., wAsHxNrnoN. D. c.

UNiTnD STATES APATENT Ormea.

JOHN A.- CALDWELL, OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

BICYCLE-Gemme'.

SPEQIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent o. 627,977, dated July 4,1899'. Application filed May 26, 1897. Renewed November 28, 1898. SerialNo. 697,711. (No model.)

To all whom Z715 may concern..-

Be it known that I, J oHN A. CALDWELL, of Vancouver, in the Province ofBritish Columbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Bicycle-Gearings; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in drive-gear mechanism forbicycles or other manually-propelled vehicles of that class in which amultiple or fast speed is imparted to the drive-wheel from a crank-axlerotating at a somewhat slower speed.

Among other objects this invention seeks to provide a drive-gear of thischaracter of a very simple but effective construction, by which a greatspeed and power with a minimum amount of friction is obtained with aslow and small foot-leverage power, in which the gearing is compact,arranged dust-proof, and capable of being applied to any form of bicycleor other manually-propelled vehicle.

The invention comprehends the peculiar combination and details ofconstructionsuch as will be first described in detail and then bespecifically pointed out in the appended' claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of asafety-bicycle equipped with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a face view ofthe operating-gear devices, part of the casing being removed to the moreclearly illustrate the parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section takenon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a detail view of a portion ofpinioncarrying ring-frame, hereinafter specifically referred to.

In the practical application my improved gear mechanism may be appliedto any form of bicycle. When to a front drive-wheel, the cranks can beof a sufficient length to receive the ordinary propelling-pedals. Whenapplied to the modern or safety style of bicycles, the crank-axle isarranged to be rotated by means of swinging levers having foot members.

Generally the drive-gear devices comprise a iiXedly-heldinternally-toothed annulus, a

rotary hub having a drive-gear, an axle held to rotate within the hubhaving anannular ring or frame iixedly connected thereto to turntherewith, which carries a plurality of drive-pinions held to mesh withthe internallygeared fixed annulus and by contact therewith rotated in adirectionreverse to the direction of movement of the frame supportingthem, whereby to rotate the hub-pinionin a direction (forward) with therotation of the shaft at a greater speed and increased power.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures, 1indicates the rear-wheel hub,

which runs freely on the ball-bearings 5, en

gaging the crank-axle 3, which is also held to rotate. The hub l carriesat one end a cogpinion 2, held in a vertical plane with. theinternally-toothed annulus 12, fixedly secured to a rigid part 19 of thebicycle-frame, it being incased at both sides by the disk-plates 13 12,as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

7 and 8 indicate a pairof rings, each having inturned portions 7 and 8a,which are joined by rivets or screws 10,whereby to form the tworings inan annular frame, having a series of intervening openings or bifurcatedportions 10, in each of which is journaled a pinion 11, adapted to meshwith the internally-toothed annulus 12 and the hub-pinion 2, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

The pinion-carrying frame has radial arms 9, terminating in a hubportion, which is fixedly secured to the crank-axle to turn therewith. Y

14. and 15 indicate the cranks, which are secured to the threaded ends 6of the aXle 3. These cranks have roller lcrank-pins l6,which work in thelongitudinal slots 20 of pedal-levers 17 18, fulcrumed on thebicycle-frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

By constructing a drive-gear as described and shown it is manifest thatWhen'the 1evers 17 and 18 are reciprocated vertically a rotary motion isimpart-ed to the crank-axle, which is rotated forward, as indicated bythe arrow X. As the frame carrying the pinions 11 is fixedly connectedto the crank-axle, it fol- IOO in a reverse direction, (see arrows y,)which movement imparts a forward movement (see arrow z) to thehub-pinion 2.

By providing a IiXed internal gear, a central gear 2, and theplanet-movement gea'rs 11, arranged as shown, it is manifest that amultiple speed, the degree of which `is dependent on the relativediameters of the pinions lland 2, is imparted to the pinion 2, theleverage power of which is also increased in accordance with the numberof gears held to engage it and the annulus l2.

I am aware that speed-gearing for bicycles has been provided in which acentral or axis gear and series of ixedly-held rotary gears operatedfrom the central gear, which in turn c engage a drive-wheel, havinginternal teeth "to impart increased speed and power to such Wheel. but

Wma-t I` do claim', and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

l'. A'drive-gearing comprising a stationary interna-lily-toothedannulus, a hub-pinion, a frame composed of a pair of rings havinginturned portions arranged at intervals, sev This construction I do-notclaim;

cured together and forming intervening openi-ngs 10, and pinionsjournaled in the openings 10, and meshing with the annulus and thehub-pinion, substantially as described.

2. A drive-gear, comprising a crank-axle having a crank; a hub on thecrank-axle having a pinion xedly held thereon; a stationary disk havingan integrally-formed internally-toothed annulus; a second diskopposing-the annulus-disk and secured thereto; a frame mounted on thecrank-axle consisting of a pair of rings held ixedlyconnected atintervals and separated at the intervening points; pinions journaled onthe said frame in Jthe separated portions thereof meshing with theannulus and the hub-pinion, all being arranged substantially as shownand for the purposes described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

J Oli-1N A. CALDWELL.

itnesses:

D. R. G. BALLANTYNE, G. S. MASON.

